AUBURN -- A Barrow County man shot three men, killing one, Tuesday night before carjacking a truck and fleeing to Buford, where he was apprehended before he could harm his girlfriend, authorities said.

James W. Bush, 42, of Winder, is charged in the crime spree that began about 8:40 p.m. in a Woodview Drive yard near Auburn, police said. Upon his capture, Bush became unresponsive, possibly the result of a drug overdose. He remains hospitalized, authorities said.

A motive for the shootings is under investigation but appears to be domestic-related, said Barrow County Sheriff's Office spokesman Maj. Todd Druse.

Police said Bush opened fire outside the residence, where they found two men injured in the front yard and another man -- Antonio Zavala, 30 -- dead in a nearby vehicle.

The injured victims were identified as Alex Lopez Narvaez, 31, and Alvaro Zavala Echevarria, 35. Both are listed in stable condition at area hospitals and are expected to recover.

After the shootings, Druse said Bush fled the scene in a black 2000 Ford F-150, which he crashed on nearby Carl-Cedar Hill Road.

Gwinnett police received information that Bush may have wanted to harm his girlfriend, thought to be living near Buford and working at a Sonny's Barbecue restaurant on Ga. Highway 20, said Gwinnett police Cpl. Edwin Ritter.

A Gwinnett police officer spotted the suspect's vehicle dodging behind a business on South Church Street in Buford and blocked Bush in, Ritter said.

"While the officer waited for backup, (Bush) threw a pistol out of the driver's window, then complied with the officer's commands," Ritter said.

Officers arrested Bush without incident, but moments later he became unresponsive. EMS personnel determined he may have been under the influence of drugs and rushed him to Gwinnett Medical Center.

Bush was receiving treatment at the hospital Wednesday, under 24-hour guard by Barrow County deputies, Druse said.

Barrow authorities have charged Bush with murder, felony murder, armed robbery, carjacking, firearms possession, cruelty to children in the third degree and numerous counts of aggravated assault.

Gwinnett police were seeking additional charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Wednesday.

According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Bush was released from prison in April after serving two years for entering a vehicle and possessing tools to commit a crime in Gwinnett County.